Without a doubt Vancouver reigns supreme as having a huge coffee culture, but there’s something altogether soothing about a mid-afternoon cup of tea to escape the frenetic cacophony of downtown Vancouver.

An exceedingly pleasant way to see the city as well as to get across False Creek with an exceptional view from the water involves climbing on board one of the little blue boats that glide effortlessly on the waterways: False Creek Ferries is probably one of Vancouver’s best kept secrets as a notable and interesting mode of transportation.

To celebrate the season, go and see what downtown Vancouver has to offer during the holidays whether it be for shopping, strolling, visiting beautifully decorated seasonal venues or just having a twirl around an ice rink in the center of the city, there’s something for everyone.

Shopaholic Alert: If you’re on the prowl for a premier shopping destination, look no further than beautiful downtown Vancouver which boasts a dizzying array of choices from department stores to indie boutiques, all conveniently located in the downtown corridor just steps from The Auberge!

Although Vancouver’s world-renowned Stanley Park receives the most annual visits by tourists and locals alike, here are a couple of under the radar outdoor spots just a little further away from the downtown core but definitely worth exploring: VanDusen Botannical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory, both accessible by crossing either the Oak or Granville St Bridges and minutes from the city center. Both properties are open seven days a week: VanDusen is the larger open air property whereas the smaller Bloedel Conservatory situated at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park is a beautiful oasis filled with plants, trees and birds under a geodesic dome.

Essentially Vancouver’s oldest ‘hood with heritage designations on most of the buildings but also the most hip and happening: Gastown has plenty of indie boutiques, one of a kind art galleries, cutting edge interior design stores, critically acclaimed restaurants as well as a host of cool cocktail lounges and bars plus a whole lot more!

Situated right on the waterfront overlooking Coal Harbour and also in the heart of the downtown business district, The Auberge is located in an office tower that also houses a posh private club. Since our signage is extremely discreet, you could walk by the hotel without even knowing it. So how do you find us? Here are some tips that you might find helpful:

What do a former world leader, a renowned British actress of stage and screen as well as an American rock icon all have in common? Margaret Thatcher,Helena Bonham Carter and Bruce Springsteen, along with visitors from all over the world have all experienced the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is 230 ft or approx 70 metres above the ground. In the middle of a temperate rainforest and spanning 450 ft across (140 m), the bridge attracts up to 6,000 visitors a day during the summer which translates to 800,000 visits per year; it’s no wonder that the Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of the most highly rated local attractions in metro Vancouver.